The freeze condition (FRZ) (Japanese: 凍りIce), also called ice in the Pokémon Stadium series, causes a Pokémon to be unable to make a move. It is the only status condition that does not have a move that will always cause it or an Ability that can cause it, and because of this, it is arguably the most uncommon.

It is associated with the Ice type, as the majority of moves that can freeze are of this type. Ice-type Pokémon are usually immune to being frozen, except from Tri Attack in Generation II. In Generation V, Pokémon glow blue and stop moving when frozen.

Contents

Effect

Freezing causes a Pokémon to be unable to make a move for an indeterminate number of turns. The specifics vary between generations.

In addition, some moves can still be used by the frozen Pokémon while frozen (thawing it out in the process). Pokémon cannot be frozen in harsh sunlight, but harsh sunlight does not affect when an already-frozen Pokémon thaws.

Generation III

Same as Generation II, but the thaw chance is now 20% and Pokémon can attack on the turn that they defrost. An animation also shows up whenever a Pokémon is unable to move due to being frozen (in contrast to previous generations, in which it only showed up when freeze was inflicted).

Now all damaging Fire-type moves can thaw a frozen target, regardless of whether or not they have a chance to burn; however, Fire-type Hidden Power cannot thaw a frozen target. Tri Attack can no longer thaw a frozen Pokémon. Freezing also disables the Ability Flash Fire.

Causes

Moves

Unlike other major status conditions, the freeze status can only be caused by Pokémon moves (rather than by Abilities or items), with those moves rarely causing it. Currently, no moves have freeze as a primary effect. The following are the moves that can cause the freeze status:

Other causes

Curing

In all generations except Generation I, freeze has a chance to be cured on its own on the frozen Pokémon's turn; it has a 10% chance in Generation II, and 20% chance in all subsequent generations. Consequently, the frozen Pokémon may thaw out on the turn of freezing. Pokémon cannot be frozen in harsh sunlight, but harsh sunlight has no effect on Pokémon that are already frozen.

In Generation I and II, if a frozen Pokémon is hit by a damaging Fire-type move that can inflict burn (i.e. every Fire-type move except Fire Spin and Hidden Power), it will be thawed; in Generation II, if a frozen Pokémon is hit by Tri Attack, it has a 1/3 chance of being thawed.

From Generation III onward, if a frozen Pokémon is successfully hit by a damaging Fire-type move, it will be immediately thawed; moves that change type such as Weather Ball can thaw a frozen target if they are Fire-type, except Hidden Power in Generation III. From Generation V onward, Pokémon with the Ability Flash Fire will not be thawed by Fire-type moves, since they will not be damaged by them (prior to Generation V, Flash Fire cannot be activated while the Pokémon is frozen).

Starting in Generation VI, if a frozen Pokémon is successfully hit by Scald or Steam Eruption, it will be immediately thawed; since Pokémon with the Ability Water Absorb, Dry Skin, or Storm Drain do not take damage from Scald or Steam Eruption, they cannot be thawed by them.

The moves Heal Bell (unless the Pokémon has Soundproof as their Ability in Generation III and IV) and Aromatherapy remove the freeze condition from all Pokémon in the user's party. In Generation I only, using Haze cures the opponent from the freeze condition.

Pokémon with Natural Cure will be cured upon switching out, those with the Hydration Ability will be cured while it is raining. Pokémon with Shed Skin have a 1/3 chance of being cured every turn, and Pokémon with Healer have a 30% chance of curing their allies.

Prevention

Ice-type Pokémon cannot become frozen, except in Generation II by Tri Attack. However, if a Pokémon is frozen while not Ice-type (e.g. due to a type-changing move like Soak), it remains frozen even if it becomes Ice-type later (e.g. due to switching out and in again after its type is changed).

In the spin-off games

Freeze (Frozen when inflicted in-game) is a negative status in the Rumble series. A frozen Pokémon is unable to move or use any moves for roughly five seconds. However, if the affected Pokémon is controlled by a player, inputting movement or button commands will make the effect wear off faster, with a minimum duration of about two seconds. Frozen Pokémon are still, with ice crystals surrounding their body.

No types are immune to freeze, but Pokémon with the Adept, Ice Boost, or Steady Special Traits cannot be frozen, and those with the Reflector Trait will cause the user of the freeze-inducing move to become frozen instead if hit by one.

Pokémon Conquest

In Pokémon Conquest, frozen Pokémon cannot take any action, but their Warrior can still use Warrior Skills or items on their turn. At the start of each turn there is a chance of a frozen Pokémon thawing, and they may act normally during that turn. Freeze can be inflicted by Abilities and by Ice-type attacks, and Ice types are immune to freezing. Freezing can be cured by certain Warrior Skills, items, or by ending a Pokémon's turn on a status condition-curing tile of the battlefield, such as a Hot Spring or a Water Bucket.

In the anime

In the anime, the frozen status is literally the same as in the games; once a Pokémon is frozen, it can't move and is open to attacks. In some cases, a referee may call a frozen Pokémon unable to battle.

Freezing is one of the most common status conditions featured in the anime, resulting often when a Pokémon gets hit by an Ice-type attack like Ice Beam or Blizzard.

In Savvy Swinub, Pryce used his Swinub's Blizzard to freeze Suicune, although it was afterwards revealed that the "Suicune" was actually a moving ice statue created by Pryce and moved by his Ice Pokémon.